I am slowly but steadily finding my way back to that mysterious land where I feel motivated and inspired to write something every day. I blame Fallout: New Vegas for wrapping me up in an interesting world every night, and a giant stack of comic books that reminded me how much I love superhero st...

Many months ago, I went over to the Spitzer Science Center at Caltech to record this episode of Spaceship Spitzer. I played a (hopefully) humorous semi-parody of myself, and I also did the voice for the robot called Irwin. What I didn't know until I saw this yesterday was that Amy Okuda, who pla...

I'm heading up to Vancouver later this week to shoot an episode of Eureka! The SyFy (I know they're my new employers, but it still pains me to write that) Channel put out the following press release this morning: Actor, author and blogger Wil Wheaton of the popular television series Star Trek: ...

Funny, I used to feel the way you do. I really was quite horrible at math until I got to algebra. I always found it strange that algebra is when it all clicked for me, but I had a really great teacher and you know... that makes all the difference. It turns out I wasn't so bad at math after all; I just needed someone who could make it make sense. I used to not want anything to do with it, and now I make a living off of it. Awesome.
By the way, on a totally unrelated note: something I wanted to share. I was visiting my family (grandparents, aunt, uncle, cousins, and immediate family) and we were all out at a restaurant. Somehow, The Big Bang Theory came up. My mom said, "raise your hand if you watch The Big Bang Theory." Just about everyone at the table raised their hand. I'd seen a few episodes, and while I like it, I don't actively watch it (I recently got rid of my TV service), so I kept my hand down. Then my mom said, "Raise your hand if you think Jessica (that's me) would like it." Everyone raised their hands and started telling me how much I would love that show. My cousin's eyes got wide and from across the table he shouted very seriously, "Do you know who Wil Wheaton is?" I was about to say that yes, of course I know who Wil Wheaton is, when I thought of an even better answer. I grinned back and said in my most matter-of-fact voice, "I read his blog." This got the reaction I was looking for as my mom gasped and said, "She could be on the show." I'm not usually so witty, but I would like to thank you for providing me with the opportunity to score witty points and be the funny one for once. :)

Yesterday, I wrote: Well, the power just went out, so it's time for me to pack up my Mac and head out to a cafe with WiFi where I can work on my novel in front of people and get this posted. The weird thing is, while it's likely going to take an hour at least from the time I finish writing this...

Could you simply start your book off with another episode review? One that you feel is better representative of the work as a whole? I know, I know, I'm a little too fervent about keeping things in order as well. But maybe you could employ a little of that creative license and mix things up a bit.
Just a thought. ;)

On Twitter yesterday, I said, "And now, a useless fact, brought to you by 'I need a break from rewriting Encounter At Farpoint': I loved Mike Tyson's Punchout on NES." I was flooded with replies that were variations of "WTF? Rewriting Encounter at Farpoint? Why?" I can see how, lacking context, ...

Dang, man. When I was his age, I was so freaking afraid to drive a car. It took me years to even be comfortable driving on a highway at any time of day. Most of the time I'd stick to the access roads and such. Once when I was a really new driver, my parents tried to get me to drive home from church—ON I-95 IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA. Holy cow, I started crying. So my dad drove us home, but seemed really angry.
Now I know that highway driving is absolutely the best kind of driving and I actually like it.
That sounds a lot like my rule for driving. Always look out for the other guy, because he's sure as anything not looking out for you. Also, As unfair as it seems, jerks always have the right of way.

Anne and I took Nolan out to Glendale tonight for this art thing he likes to do. After we dropped him off, Anne said, "Hey, I want to have a dinner date with my husband." Bonus, unexpected dinner dates are always awesome, so I didn't even put up token resistance, and we had an awesome meal toget...

Dang, man. When I was his age, I was so freaking afraid to drive a car. It took me years to even be comfortable driving on a highway at any time of day. Most of the time I'd stick to the access roads and such. Once when I was a really new driver, my parents tried to get me to drive home from church—ON I-95 IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA. Holy cow, I started crying. So my dad drove us home, but seemed really angry.
Now I know that highway driving is absolutely the best kind of driving and I actually like it.
That sounds a lot like my rule for driving. Always look out for the other guy, because he's sure as anything not looking out for you. Also, As unfair as it seems, jerks always have the right of way.

Anne and I took Nolan out to Glendale tonight for this art thing he likes to do. After we dropped him off, Anne said, "Hey, I want to have a dinner date with my husband." Bonus, unexpected dinner dates are always awesome, so I didn't even put up token resistance, and we had an awesome meal toget...

I guess I'm I young person. I answered my door today and the guy (who was selling newspaper subscriptions) asked me if my parents were home. -.-;; I'm twenty-two; I live on my own. I also voted about two weeks ago because early voting rocks.
But I voted Republican. Whoops! I know that the majority of younger voters voted Obama, and it really makes me ashamed to be a part of this demographic. Not that voting Democratic is shameful. Just that young voters—especially college-aged ones—have never been out on their own, never had to pay the bills, never had to pay taxes, never had to support a family. Never had to deal with the problems of real life. Heck, I've been off my parents' dollar for only a few months now. And these people are voting? They vote for Obama because he's popular and he'll bring change. But when you ask them what kind of change, they blank. They're repeating a slogan and following the masses. Research has shown that the part of the brain dealing with risk assessment does not fully develop until the mid twenties. They vote for this guy because it's cool and don't fully assess what it's going to mean to them or their futures. And I'm saying this as a young person.
That being said, I will congratulate Obama on his win. He had a very well run campaign. I hope he does great things for this country; I really do. I'll say this: he's my President. And if I ever meet him, I will shake his hand and get a picture. And say, "Look! I met the President!" I will not boo if I'm at an event where he is a guest but rather clap respectfully. I'll back him against people who lie about him. Because the office of the President demands that respect. I only wish maybe liberals had extended the same to Bush.

I want my country back, and I want the despicable campaign of hate, fear, lies, and division run by John McCain and personified by Sarah Palin to be repudiated by a massive Obama win. We can make this happen. The polls all say we're going to make this happen . . . but I remember 2000 and I re...

I guess I'm I young person. I answered my door today and the guy (who was selling newspaper subscriptions) asked me if my parents were home. -.-;; I'm twenty-two; I live on my own. I also voted about two weeks ago because early voting rocks.
But I voted Republican. Whoops! I know that the majority of younger voters voted Obama, and it really makes me ashamed to be a part of this demographic. Not that voting Democratic is shameful. Just that young voters—especially college-aged ones—have never been out on their own, never had to pay the bills, never had to pay taxes, never had to support a family. Never had to deal with the problems of real life. Heck, I've been off my parents' dollar for only a few months now. And these people are voting? They vote for Obama because he's popular and he'll bring change. But when you ask them what kind of change, they blank. They're repeating a slogan and following the masses. Research has shown that the part of the brain dealing with risk assessment does not fully develop until the mid twenties. They vote for this guy because it's cool and don't fully assess what it's going to mean to them or their futures. And I'm saying this as a young person.
That being said, I will congratulate Obama on his win. He had a very well run campaign. I hope he does great things for this country; I really do. I'll say this: he's my President. And if I ever meet him, I will shake his hand and get a picture. And say, "Look! I met the President!" I will not boo if I'm at an event where he is a guest but rather clap respectfully. I'll back him against people who lie about him. Because the office of the President demands that respect. I only wish maybe liberals had extended the same to Bush.

I want my country back, and I want the despicable campaign of hate, fear, lies, and division run by John McCain and personified by Sarah Palin to be repudiated by a massive Obama win. We can make this happen. The polls all say we're going to make this happen . . . but I remember 2000 and I re...

I've always had a pretty good imagination.
I'm twenty-two and I still live in made up worlds. It's probably not all that good for me, but it is fun.
Sometimes I'll pretend to have conversations with people I know. Sometimes I pretend to have conversations with people I don't know but would like to. Sometimes, I wish I had the wherewithal to live in the real world. But not often.

I have to do a bunch of real work today, so I'm just going to point to a fantastic column at GeekDad that every GeekMom and GeekDad should read: Teaching Kids to Roleplay is Only Natural. Children are born to role play. It is one of the key ways in which children learn. Ok, so it isn’t all dic...

I've always had a pretty good imagination.
I'm twenty-two and I still live in made up worlds. It's probably not all that good for me, but it is fun.
Sometimes I'll pretend to have conversations with people I know. Sometimes I pretend to have conversations with people I don't know but would like to. Sometimes, I wish I had the wherewithal to live in the real world. But not often.

I have to do a bunch of real work today, so I'm just going to point to a fantastic column at GeekDad that every GeekMom and GeekDad should read: Teaching Kids to Roleplay is Only Natural. Children are born to role play. It is one of the key ways in which children learn. Ok, so it isn’t all dic...

Anne and I took Ryan to see Elvis Costello and The Police at the Hollywood Bowl last night. We bought our tickets months ago, and got the best seats we could afford. We took the shuttle from the Zoo to the Bowl, and were in our seats about ten minutes before Elvis and The Impostors took to the s...

Anne and I took Ryan to see Elvis Costello and The Police at the Hollywood Bowl last night. We bought our tickets months ago, and got the best seats we could afford. We took the shuttle from the Zoo to the Bowl, and were in our seats about ten minutes before Elvis and The Impostors took to the s...

I just put the finishing touches on the note for the house sitter (my favorite new addition to the standard boilerplate: how to hook up Rock Band without messing up my tours) and I'm about to head out to San Diego for some awesome geekery this weekend. Before I leave, though, I had to say: Go se...

I just put the finishing touches on the note for the house sitter (my favorite new addition to the standard boilerplate: how to hook up Rock Band without messing up my tours) and I'm about to head out to San Diego for some awesome geekery this weekend. Before I leave, though, I had to say: Go se...

My brother is a hell of a photographer, and is on the verge of turning his hobby into something much, much more. He took this picture last year, and it instantly became one of my favorites. This morning, he told me that he'd recently entered it in a contest that had hundreds of other entries....

My brother is a hell of a photographer, and is on the verge of turning his hobby into something much, much more. He took this picture last year, and it instantly became one of my favorites. This morning, he told me that he'd recently entered it in a contest that had hundreds of other entries....

Howdy. I certainly respect your decision to support Obama, but I do hope you're not doing it because it's the in thing to do. It seems to me that's why so many like him. Because it's hip. It seems he just spouts out the words "change," "hope," and "the future" and people will follow him. "Oh... I like change and hope and the future. I'll vote for Obama." Disgusting.
Sorry, but the more I hear about Obama, the less I really know about him, and the more he scares me. I still think he'd be a better choice than Hillary, so I still hope he gets the Democratic nomination (even though Hillary would probably be easier to beat), but still.
Not that the Republican party's candidate makes me happy, either. My guy didn't get in. :( I hope your guy fares better.

I met Daniel M. Davis, owner of Steam Crow Press, when I was at the Phoenix Comicon. He's an intensely creative guy, and as it turns out, a Barack Obama supporter, just like me. Daniel and I are working on something wonderful together, and during our conversation this morning, I asked him if I...

Howdy. I certainly respect your decision to support Obama, but I do hope you're not doing it because it's the in thing to do. It seems to me that's why so many like him. Because it's hip. It seems he just spouts out the words "change," "hope," and "the future" and people will follow him. "Oh... I like change and hope and the future. I'll vote for Obama." Disgusting.
Sorry, but the more I hear about Obama, the less I really know about him, and the more he scares me. I still think he'd be a better choice than Hillary, so I still hope he gets the Democratic nomination (even though Hillary would probably be easier to beat), but still.
Not that the Republican party's candidate makes me happy, either. My guy didn't get in. :( I hope your guy fares better.

I met Daniel M. Davis, owner of Steam Crow Press, when I was at the Phoenix Comicon. He's an intensely creative guy, and as it turns out, a Barack Obama supporter, just like me. Daniel and I are working on something wonderful together, and during our conversation this morning, I asked him if I...

That's it exactly. The original Star Trek is so corny and cheesy. I remember one episode where the ship was supposed to be in trouble, and there was a shot of it in space merely tilted on its axis. But it's space: orientation does not indicate trouble. It made me laugh.
If I watched Star Trek only for the cool factor, I probably wouldn't watch the original series. But I watch Star Trek for the characters and stories. I still think Enterprise would have done better if it had been based more off of the original series. Could you imagine? Every planet is some replica of Earth during a certain period in time. Awesome.

I watched a couple episodes of the original Star Trek with Nolan last night, including Court Martial. He's not a big Star Trek fan. He prefers Battlestar Galactica -- he calls it "gangster," which is teenager for "good" -- and Firefly, but he watched it with me anyway. Though he's thankfully g...

That's it exactly. The original Star Trek is so corny and cheesy. I remember one episode where the ship was supposed to be in trouble, and there was a shot of it in space merely tilted on its axis. But it's space: orientation does not indicate trouble. It made me laugh.
If I watched Star Trek only for the cool factor, I probably wouldn't watch the original series. But I watch Star Trek for the characters and stories. I still think Enterprise would have done better if it had been based more off of the original series. Could you imagine? Every planet is some replica of Earth during a certain period in time. Awesome.

I watched a couple episodes of the original Star Trek with Nolan last night, including Court Martial. He's not a big Star Trek fan. He prefers Battlestar Galactica -- he calls it "gangster," which is teenager for "good" -- and Firefly, but he watched it with me anyway. Though he's thankfully g...